(Metro News) Pasay court stops MMDA from demolishing QC billboard

January 20, 2012 11:39 pm

MANILA, Jan. 20 — A Pasay City judge ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to stop demolishing a billboard located in Quezon City, notwithstanding a standing Dismantling/ Roll Down Order issued by the Building Official of Quezon City.

But while the petition covered only two billboards, the Writ covered 119 billboards.

The Writ was issued pursuant to a petition for Injunction filed by Ever Corp. against the MMDA, after the agency dismantled Evers billboard located at 995 UC Dapitan Hardware/ Lumber, EDSA, Quezon City.

MMDA Legal and Legislative Affairs Staff director Rochelle Macapili-Ona clarified that the dismantling was done upon the request of the Local Government of Quezon City. Document presented in the injunction case showed that Quezon City Building Officer Isagani Versoza had issued a Dismantling/ Roll Down Order to United Neon as early as Aug. 14, 2011. This Order was formally endorsed to the MMDA on Oct. 11, 2011.

The subject billboard owned by Ever Corp. does not have a building permit, Ona said.

This is an outright violation of the National Building Code, which requires that all structures, whether these be buildings or outdoor advertising signs, should obtain a building permit. Where the law does not distinguish, we should not distinguish, she said.

The petitioner could not even produce their business permits.

Section 301 of the National Building Code states that any entity erecting or constructing any building or structure should first obtain a building permit from the Building Official assigned in the place where the building is located.

The National Building Code was enacted to ensure that all structures  whether these be buildings, houses or billboard structures  conform in all respects to the principles of safe construction and are suited to the purpose for which they are designed, said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino. (PNA) RMA/CLTC